Terapia Ocupacional e a fome: percepções e intervenções de terapeutas ocupacionais do nordeste brasileiro sobre a insegurança alimentar

Abstract

Currently, 33.1 million people are hungry in Brazil, the world's third largest food producer. In terms of absolute numbers, 125.2 million Brazilians experience some degree of Food Insecurity, which represents 6 out of 10 households. Food Insecurity is the denial of the right to regular and permanent access to quality food in sufficient quantity. A higher incidence of hunger is observed in the Northeast region (68% of the population), among black and brown people (65%) and in households headed by women (twice higher in households with children under 10 years of age). Water insecurity affects 12% of the population across the country, a number that expresses the lack of water for drinking and cooking food. Starting from the understanding that hunger is a problem that demands intersectoriality and action from the most diverse social actors, and taking Occupational Therapy as a profession that promotes inclusion and social protagonism and the defense of human rights and social justice, this study intended to know the performance of occupational therapists from the nine states of northeastern Brazil, with regard to their perceptions and interventions in the face of food insecurity and hunger. Thus, a qualitative research was carried out, through the application of an online questionnaire, prepared by the researchers, aimed at occupational therapists working in the Northeast region and who did not exclusively exercise teaching or research. The answers obtained were systematized, categorized, described and interpreted based on content analysis. The results revealed that most professionals are linked to private clinics and that most workplaces do not address the issue and do not document it in the initial assessment instruments. The performance of occupational therapists in food was highlighted, with training in activities of daily living and the use of assistive technology to increase independence and autonomy in the various activities involved in food. In addition, a growing demand was identified for the treatment of food selectivity, using Sensory Integration approaches. Some occupational therapists working in the social field, primary care and mental health have developed specific interventions to deal with Food Insecurity, centered on access to assistance benefits and community strategies. Although they mentioned difficulties in evaluating and intervening in the challenges related to hunger and Food Insecurity, they consider promoting citizenship, exercising autonomy and defending the guarantee of human rights as fundamental attributions of professional performance. The study emphasizes the need to use appropriate instruments for tracking and assessing Food Insecurity, such as the EBIA and TRIA, in different services and professional fields. It is concluded that more scientific publications are needed that contribute to the theoretical, practical and formative development of Occupational Therapy in relation to Food Insecurity and Hunger.